Rainbow Resort Cross Country Skiing

The 3rd most popular XC Ski in Minnesota.

Near Waubun, the Rainbow Resort ski center has 20km of trails groomed from classical and skate cross country skiing. The trails are roughly sixteen to twenty feet wide and are groomed for both classic and skate skiing. The trails are for the exclusive use of our guests and are located in heavily forested area with a variety of trees and wildlife. With nearly 450 acres and numerous lakes and ponds, it will seem as though you are in a remote wilderness. We are located in northeastern Becker County, just 20 miles from Itasca State Park, which has roughly 50K of skiing trails. Ski our trails one day and Itasca State Park the next day, for more than 70K of great skiing, all within a four hour drive from the Twin Cities.

RAINBOW RESORT is a 4-5 hour drive from the Twin Cities. We normally take Interstate 94 north to the Clearwater or Highway 24 exit and cross over to Highway 10 at Clear Lake. This is south of St. Cloud about 10 miles. Follow Highway 10 west/north to Wadena and then take Highway 71 north through Park Rapids. (Of course, you can also continue north on Interstate 94 to Sauk Center and then take Highway 71 north to Wadena. You could even continue on Interstate 94 to Fergus Falls and then take Highway 59 north to Detroit Lakes.) Roughly 18 miles north of Park Rapids, take highway 113 west, 21 miles, to County Road 35 (West Elbow Lake Road). (The Highway 113 junction is just south of Itasca State Park so if you pass Itasca State Park, you know you have gone too far north on Highway 71.) At County Road 35, go four miles south to RAINBOW RESORT.

Overall, Rainbow Resort is the 3rd most popular cross country ski area of all 39 Nordic ski destinations in Minnesota.